North Korea: 60 executed publicly in 2010 - Amnesty International

May 12, 2011: About 60 North Koreans were executed publicly in 2010 for acts against its regime, up from seven a year before, Amnesty International said in its annual report.

“North Korea continues to carry out executions, some in public and others in secret. At least 60 people are believed to have been executed publicly,” Amnesty said.

It said an armaments factory worker was executed in late January in Hamheung for divulging ― via an illegal Chinese mobile phone ― rice prices and other information on living conditions to a friend who had defected to South Korea.

Source: Korean Times, May 12, 2011

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Amnesty International Reveals Increasing North Korean Political Prisons

By BOB Goswami
May 04, 2011

NORTH KOREA NEWS - In a recent document released by Amnesty International revealed satellite images of North Korea's political prison camps, expressing concern over the growing in numbers and pathetic conditions in the camps.

In the report the rights group has shed light on the horrible conditions in the camps, detailing the accounts of torture, starvation and mass executions of political inmates.

Amnesty International urged North Korea to close all the camps. Moreover, it also expressed the secretive state to confess about the existence of the clandestine prison camps.

Earlier, North Korea was blamed for mass political prison camps but the N. Korean government denied the allegations. The recent report once again put a strong question mark of the government remarks, though Pyongan still to comment on the reports.

The images shows four of the six camps located in a vast wilderness in the provinces of South Pyongan, South Hamkyung and North Hamkyung.

The comparative analysis of 2001 images and recent findings shows a significant increase in number of camps in the area.

Amnesty's Asia Pacific director Sam Zarifi said that the sites are placed away from the human eyes. He expressed his concern over the political instability in N.Korea, which seemed to be moving towards a new leadership. The growing prison camps are not the biggest worry for International rights groups.

Amnesty recorded the testimony of 15 former inmates and some prison guards and other eyewitnesses. One former prisoner at one camp at Yodok recalled how they were forced to work like slaves and tortured and treated like animals. Whenever anyone tried to escape, they were caught and interrogated for two or three months and then executed mercilessly.

Amnesty in its report also highlighted the inhuman food for prisoners where people survived by eating rats or picking corn kernels out animal waste.

U.S. State Department releases its annual report on human rights

On Friday, April 8, the U.S. State Department released its annual report on human rights. The report included sharp criticism of the human rights records of China, North Korea, Cuba, Burma and Belarus, among others.

The US is arguably a/the leader of the free world, and it is correct to point out serious human rights issues and violations in other countries. But the report would be more meaningful if our own national human rights record was seriously improved, and if the US itself was a model of human rights and ethical consistency at home and abroad.

The USA (other than Somalia) is the only country in the world which has not ratified the Convention of the Rights of the Child; we have not signed the Landmine Treaty, the Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and a host of other major human rights instruments.

Most blatantly, the USA remains a major human rights violator with its ongoing and despicable usage of the death penalty. This nation consistenly ranks in the top 5 executing jurisdictions in the world behind China and Iran; we have and use more methods of execution than any country in the world, and, as has long been documented, the system of capital punishment in the US is plagued with issues of racism, prejudice, mistakes, arbitrariness, and numerous examples of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct.

It is not a cliche...human rights begin at home. The USA needs to commit itself to (seriously) improving its own human rights record before it tries to claim any moral high ground while criticizing the human rights record of others.

Source: Rick Halperin, Amnesty International, Letter to the Editor, Dallas Morning News, April 9, 2011

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North Korea tripled executions to quell outcry

Public executions have more than tripled in North Korea since the dictatorship in late 2009 redenominated its currency and in the process sparked widespread public discontent, according to a recent report seen by The Japan Times.

According to the confidential South Korean government report obtained by Lee Young Hwa, an economics professor at Kansai University, 52 North Koreans were publicly executed between December 2009 and last November, compared with 16 reported executions between January and November 2009.

In the currency redenomination, which took place Nov. 30, 2009, citizens were required to turn in their old currency in exchange for new money at a rate of 100 old won to 1 new won. The government drastically limited the amount of old North Korean won that an individual could exchange, leaving many with piles of valueless paper.

The regime said the redenomination was necessary to curb inflation, but the new bills rapidly dropped in value. Analysts have said the move was aimed at undermining the street-market economy that had grown big, thus helping the government restore the state-run economic sector, which nearly collapsed in the 1990s.

The big losers in the forced exchange were private market traders who had prospered and accumulated surpluses.

The report said the surge in executions was a direct result of the redenomination and was aimed at instilling fear to dampen increasing public discontent aimed at the dictatorship.

"The number of public executions began increasing in 2009, when the succession of power from Kim Jong Il to his son and heir apparent, Kim Jong Un, became full-fledged," said Lee, a North Korea expert who also heads the organization Rescue the North Korean Refugees — Urgent Action Network (RENK).

"The report is a warning that North Korea's iron-fisted reign of terror will harden under Kim Jong Un," he said.

Crime categories that could be subject to the death penalty were increased from five to 21 in March 2008, and further categories were included following the redenomination, including "execution for illegal circulation of foreign currency," and "death by shooting for leaking information via cell phones," the report said.

The 52 executed included Korean Worker's Party high officials Pak Nam Gi and his deputy, Ri Tae Il, whom the report said were executed "as scapegoats" for the redenomination's failure.

Also notable were the executions of three Christian members of an underground church in Pyongsong, South Pyongyang Province, for proselytizing. Others died for distributing leaflets decrying the redenomination and for creating satirical effigies of Kim Jong Il.

"Demonstrations, distribution of leaflets, crackdown on an underground church — these are all proof of how social unrest is building in the North," he said.

Source: Japan Times, February 8, 2011

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Party elite executed to clear path for Kim Jong-un

A reign of terror has descended on the Communist Party in Pyongyang.

There have been reports of purges and executions to secure the succession of Kim Jong-un as North Korea's new dictator.

South Korean newspapers say more than 200 officials have been executed or detained by the state security bureau and one official jumped to his death.

North Korean guards are reported to have shot dead five would-be escapees along the frozen river on the border with China, and notices have appeared threatening the death penalty for anyone caught using a Chinese mobile phone or trading in US dollars.

The younger Kim - promoted by his ailing father Kim Jong-il late last year - is said to have called for "gunshots across the country".

"Since last year the regime has apparently relied increasingly on public executions to tighten control," said the South Korean ambassador for international security, Nam Joo-hong. Complaints about the succession of the younger Kim were one reason for the number of executions, he told Chosun Ilbo, a conservative newspaper in Seoul.

Diplomats monitored 60 shooting executions last year, three times more than in 2009, the newspaper said.

Travellers from North Korea, defectors and foreign sources have provided details in recent weeks suggesting bloodshed started last month after the Kim dynasty unveiled its heir.

Chinese security chief Zhou Yongkang attended the parade at which Jong-un appeared before the masses and evidently returned to Beijing convinced the young successor would acquire his own authority.

North Korea's nuclear weapons and its recent attacks on South Korea will be high on the agenda when Chinese President Hu Jintao meets US President Barack Obama at the White House this week, but the Chinese insist their influence in Pyongyang is limited.

Reports indicate some of China's friends are falling victim to the purges during the transition in the dictatorship.

Jong-un is reported to be targeting middle-aged officials linked to the two old-guard figures closest to his father.

They are Jang Song-taek, brother-in-law to the elder Kim and entrusted with key appointments, and Okuk-ryol, a veteran of the National Defence Commission, North Korea's most important body. Analysts say the aim is to weaken the two men and enhance Jong-un's ability to inculcate fear and obedience.

Sources: The Sunday Times, The Australian, January 17, 2011

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North Korea Will Not Retaliate Over South Provocation: N. Korea

By ETHAN Markoff

NORTH KOREA NEWS - In a surprising note, North Korea proclaims it will not respond harshly over South Korea's "reckless provocations" over life-fire drills by the South on the flashpoint island of Yeonpyeong.

Earlier North attacked the island and said to continue more drills if South Korea wouldn't stop the live-fire. However, the state media in a recent report stated it was not worth reacting this time.

UN Security Council approach ended without any result after China refused to be in unison with the statement, which was critical to its friend North Korea.

The South's government has been under domestic pressure to take tough measures against North after an artillery fire exchanged on Korean border when North Korea army fired artillery shells onto a populated island near disputed waters, prompting return fire from South Korea. It is reported of injuring civilians and soldiers due to sudden conflict.

Before the attack on Yeonpyeong, the South ordered residents and other islands to take cover in air-raid shelters early Monday. South Koreans feared of heavy retaliation from the North, but surprisingly North Korean state news agency KCNA reported that the military had not planned for any attack.

In a report it said that the North Korea army did not feel to answer any despicable military provocations by the South.

"The world should properly know who is the true champion of peace and who is the real provocateur of a war." State Media said.

South Korean military spokesman Lee Bung-woo confirmed that there were no provocative fire from the North's side.

China and Russia urged both sides to remain calm and show restraint.

The US on the other hand backed South Korea to exercised military drills against The North and assured to help the South in this matter.

Japan Changes National Defense Policies, Boosting Southern Forces

By MALILA Harris

JAPAN NEWS - Fearing the shifting balance of power in Asia, Japan has underwent sweeping changes to its national defense policies, pushing its southern forces in responses to neighboring China's military rise.

China's growing defense build-up is a growing concern for global concern, and Japan shares a maritime border with China. It has unveiled that it will strengthen its missile defenses because there are threats from North Korea.

Japan's National Defense Program Guideline will look after renewed defense policies for the next 10 years. The cabinet has already approved the guidelines.

Earlier Japan focused on north to counter the potential threat from the former Soviet Union, but later on it had been shifting to south of Japan, closer to China and remote flashpoint islands near Taiwan. The guidelines says Japan is concerned by China's growing military arsenal, improving on modern warfare and deploying extra naval forces in the East China and South China seas.

"These movements, coupled with the lack of transparency on China's military and security issues, the trend is a concern for the region and the international community," the new guidelines say.

It is reported that Japan and China had always a frictional relationships, but the water became murkier in September when a Chinese trawler collided with Japanese patrol boats near a chain of disputed islands in the East China sea.

The guidelines also outlined the possible threat from North Korea whose nuclear program has become a global threat. The report says North Korea's missile and nuclear enrichment are "pressing and serious destabilizing factors".

In recent years Pyongyang has attacked Japan with missiles and staged nuclear tests.

China has responded sharply over the Japan's military guidelines and remarks, saying the country is becoming the power for the development of Asia, and not threat to countries. The Foreign Ministry of China dismissed Japan's remarks as irresponsible.

Burma Involves In Nuclear Program, Helping By North Korea: Wikileaks

By MALILA Harris

BURMA NEWS - According to secret US cables released by Wikileaks, North Korea supports Burma to develop missile and nuclear sites. A witness says Burma constructa an underground bunker in a remote forest with the help of North Korean workers.

Although Burmese military regime denied any involvement in nuclear program but the secret documents affirmed that the regime might be trying to build a nuclear weapon, despite denials.

The report was prepared over the past six years, confirming dockworkers and foreign traders had witnessed the speculating site where Burma might develop the proposed sites.

The report dating from August 2004 cited an eye witness, a Burmese officer in an engineering unit, saying a site in a town called Minbu in west-central Myanmar where with the help of North Korea Burmese government was building surface-to-air missile.

The cable reads, an underground concrete structure has been built that is 500ft from the top of the cave to the top of the hill above', is a probable place for nuclear program. The site is maintained by Burmese government and supported by North Korea. It is speculating that about 300 North Korean workers were working at the site.

Wikileaks has so far released more than 1,100 of 251,000 diplomatic cables.

Uranium Enrichment In North Korea Troubles UN

By BOB Goswami

NORTH KOREA NEWS - Building pressure on North Korea, UN’s nuclear watchdog has expressed “concern” over North’s uranium enrichment facility.

Yukio Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that it was a “great concern” of recent reports of nuclear enrichment in the troubled North Korea. Recently, a US nuclear scientist said that he was shown a new uranium light water reactor plant with at least 1,000 centrifuges in North Korea. North Korea also in this week admitted that thousands of centrifuges were operating at the plant.

Mr. Amano urged North to allow IAEA inspectors to enter the country to see nuclear progress but they were not allowed in the country.

It is said that the IAEA is the only multilateral organization for nuclear verification and claimed to play significant role in verifying the DPRK's nuclear programme.

It is reported that earlier North Korea tested nuclear devices in 2006 and 2009 and said to enter the final phase of uranium enrichment.

It is reported that the country has enough plutonium to build six atomic bombs but still not prepared any ballistic missile capable to carrying a nuclear warhead.

Earlier November the American nuclear scientist, Siegfried Hecker was shown nuclear plant at Yongbyon and expressed his surprise by the modern equipment North Korea was using to enrich uranium.

China Urges Emergency Talks Amid Tension Between Koreans

By ETHAN Markoff

CHINA NEWS - In response to international demand and the murkier situation between two Koreans countries, China has urged key nations to intervene in the current crisis over tension in Korea over the North's deadly shelling of a Southern island.

China proposed that the six nations who are involved in talks on North Korean nuclear disarmament, should discuss the Korean crisis and find a solution. The six nations are North Korea, South Korea, the US, China, Japan and Russia.

It is reported that tension between two countries remains high and South Korea in response announced joint military operation against North Korea along with the United States. China has condemned the action of North Korea but apprehensive about the joint exercise.

The six-party North Korea talks have been stalled since April 2009, and South Korea and the US urged North to first halt its nuclear program. According to some analysts, North Korean attack is an attempt to strengthen its position and force a resumption of the talks.

China, The Key To Tab Against North Korea Provocations: U.S Military

By ETHAN Markoff

CHINA NEWS - China can play a pivotal role to put restrain against provocative behavior of North Korea, the top U.S military official said Wednesday.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interview that in a recent crisis of war between North and South Korea, China could play the key role to stop the behavior of North Korea. He further emphasis on role of China to influence North Korea to stop provocative actions.

China, Mullen said, has much at stake in stopping North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il from taking more provocative actions.

The United States is hoping China would impose or strict its economic support and trade with North Korea to exercise influence to tame the provocative actions of North Korea.

It is reported that President Obama will call Chinese President Hu Jintao in the next few days to discuss the issue over North Korea.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday that China would play a key role in moving North Korea in a different direction. The economic and trade influence could restrain North Korea to a greater degree, U.S is now hoping China to influence North Korea to reduce tensions that have risen from North Korean provocations and then secondarily to put pressure on nation to stop nuclear enrichment possibilities.

China still to condemn its neighbor for sudden attack on Korean border, however, maintaining a diplomatic pressure by emphasis on talks with Pyongyang.

After North Korea attack on South Korea, China strongly urged both sides to maintain peace and restrain, and forces them to engage in talks as quickly as possible in order to prevent similar incidents in future.

In the meanwhile President Obama has declared a joint exercise with South Korea against North Korea.

Wartime Alert Level Raises On Korean Border

By ETHAN Markoff

SOUTH KOREA NEWS - Artillery fire exchanged on Korean border when North Korea army fired artillery shells onto a populated island near disputed waters, prompting return fire from South Korea. It is reported of injuring civilians and soldiers due to sudden conflict.

South Korea has issued its highest non-wartime alert in response.

In return South Korea has fired from F-16 fighter jets to the western sea. The conflict broke when dozens of the shells fired on a South Korean island, from which plumes of smoke were rising. At least four soldiers are said to have been hurt.

It is considered one of the serious conflicts between two neighboring nations since the Korean War in the year 1950s. According to reports, top South Korean leaders are planning in an underground bunker in Seoul.

South Korean officials reported that a North Korean artillery unit started an illegal firing at 1434 PM (0534 GMT) and in return South Korean troops scrambled F-16 fighter jets to the western sea and fired.

The conflict damaged dozens of houses, while a South Korean television showed plumes of smoke rising above the island.

Incidentally, the conflict comes days after North Korea revealed a modern nuclear power plant, potential threat to develop nuclear weapon.

On one side US keep emphasis on denuclearisation while Pyongyang continues to work on nuclear plant.

Nuke Plant In North Korea, US Scientist Reveals

By ETHAN Markoff

NORTH KOREA NEWS – The North Korea “stunned” an American nuclear scientist, showing him vast, new plant for enriching uranium with hundreds of centrifuges already installed and running.

The US nuclear scientist Dr. Seigfried Hecker said he had been shown a nuclear plant where North Korea started building a light water nuclear reactor. He was shocked by the hundreds of centrifuges of enriching uranium, which could be handy in making nuclear warheads.

Former director of the United States' Los Alamos National Laboratory said to a private news daily that he saw modern new plant light-water reactor (in Yongbyon), eventually of the size of about 25 to 30 megawatts. He also informed his findings to White House a few days ago.

The North Korea had said before that they were operating a nuclear power plant with some 2,000 centrifuges. Mr. Hecker is a private visitor to North Korea and the nation allows him to visit the nuclear site.

North Korea and the US have been struggling to reach a peaceful consensus for long, however, in 1994 the United States agreed with North Korea by which several countries were to build two light-water reactors for the nation in return. North Korea also agreed to close down its plutonium producing reactor in Yongbyon.

Nevertheless, the agreement shattered in the year 2002, the US promised to light-water reactors had not materialized, and the North restarted its plutonium project.

A Tryst With Family: North Korean Meets South Korean In A Grand Reunion

By Gautam Jha

SEOUL NEWS: Long separated Korean families are going to meet each other on Oct 30. 435 South Koreans will cross North Korean border for the reunion of families after six decades despite the exchange of fire last night. The reunions will take place at the Mount Kumgang resort on the North's south-eastern coast, near the border. The divided families will get the chance to meet one another for a brief period after six decades.

Amidst the heightening tensions following the exchange of fire between North Korean and South Korean army, the reunions will take place as scheduled promised the Unification Ministry. The South Koreans, from 97 families, will spend three days with 97 relatives in North Korea, from whom they have been separated by war six decades ago. Family members are thrilled in anticipation of meeting their kith and kin after such a long time. Lee Moon-Yeong, in his 70s is very nostalgic and enthusiastic to meet his long separated brother. Earlier, he had suspected that his brother might have been killed in war after joining the North Korean army during the Korean war. The situation has compelled him to think because Lee's second brother was died in 1952 while fighting as a South Korean soldier.

Following the Saturday-Monday reunions, another batch of 96 South Koreans will be reunited with 207 North Koreans from Wednesday to Friday at the same place. Korean people are exemplifying the notion that human relations are above all. Its a brave step of vulnerable emotion.